The Atlanta Hawks' turbulent 2023-24 season ended a month ago in the play-in tournament. Their 36-46 record and loss to the Chicago Bulls opened a number of questions about their future. That includes the viability of a Trae Young, Dejounte Murray backcourt, which may get broken up in the summertime. But before that, Atlanta will have to wait for the results of the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery.
The Hawks have the tenth-best odds of landing the number-one overall pick. They shouldn't hold their breath at the prospect of climbing up the board. Atlanta has only a 3% chance of making that jump. But that doesn't mean there won't be good players available for the Hawks at tenth overall if that's where they stick. They'll have plenty of options to add to a core that could use an infusion of talent, especially in the frontcourt.
Cody Williams, Colorado
The Hawks are lacking depth and talent on the wing. They hoped that AJ Griffin could be a factor there when they drafted 15th overall in the 2022 draft. However, he only played in 20 games last season and has just 1,573 minutes under his belt in two seasons. Saddiq Bey, poised to be a restricted free agent, tore his ACL in March. De'Andre Hunter has battled injuries and hasn't been very consistent throughout his career.
Jalen Johnson broke out for the Hawks, but is more of a finisher than a creator. To avoid three guard lineups that compromise their defense, Atlanta could stand to find a wing creator to pair with Johnson. Colorado's Cody Williams fits that bill. The brother of Oklahoma City wing Jalen Williams flashed three-level scoring potential during his lone season at Boulder.
Cody Williams is one of the best defenders in this class, bringing high intensity versus the best scorer Colorado faced most nights, where his size and 7'1 wingspan are difficult to deal with. He scored efficiently this season, showing strong basketball instincts and versatility
Full ESPN story with @draftexpress on Colorado's Cody Williams — an expected lottery pick — entering the 2024 NBA Draft espn.com/nba/story/_/id…
Williams averaged just 16.8 points per 40 minutes at Colorado, but he did so on outstanding efficiency. He posted an effective field goal percentage of 59.5% and a true shooting percentage of 62%. Williams also shot 41.5% from three and an outrageous 58.8% on twos. There is little denying his ability to score. Williams is also a stout and versatile, which will be music to the Hawks' ears considering they finished last season with the fourth-worst defensive rating in the NBA.
Williams isn't perfect. He had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio in his lone season at Boulder and also battled injuries. But there is a lot to work with here. Atlanta should be very interested in Williams.
Ron Holland, G League Ignite
Ron Holland is another wing prospect the Hawks should want to draft if they get the chance. He was regarded as a potential number one pick heading into this season, but an uneven season with G League Ignite has cast some doubt he'll go that high. Holland did put up 18.5 points per game on solid efficiency (55.1% true shooting percentage). When he's on he's hard to stop.
Ron Holland averaged a robust 19.5 points per game for G League Ignite, drawing fouls in bunches, shooting 75% from the free throw line, while rebounding, blocking shots, and getting in passing lanes prolifically - all as an 18-year old who is not turning 19 until July.
NEWS: G League Ignite's Ron Holland, a projected lottery pick, will enter the NBA draft, he told ESPN. "Nothing has changed with me. I'm still the same competitor who has won almost everything." STORY: espn.com/nba/story/_/id…
Playmaking was an issue for Holland, though. Like Williams, he finished with a negative assist-to-turnover ratio in the G League. But even worse may be his status as a shooter. He shot 23.9% from three and 68.2% from the free throw line, which torpedoed his effective field goal percentage.
Holland has the talent to be a top lottery pick, not one at the end of it. There are still edges of his game that need to be smoothed out, but there is plenty to be excited about. He'd be a great fit in Atlanta.
Kyle Filipowski, Duke
Jalen Johnson looks to be the Hawks' power forward of the future. Onyeka Okongwu is their center going forward with Clint Capela entering the last year of his deal. But there isn't much depth behind either of them, assuming Capela isn't long for Atlanta. That could change with Duke's Kyle Filipowski.
Filipowski can play next to either Johnson or Okongwu. He has plenty of perimeter skills, including shooting 34.8% from three this season and posting 2.8 assists per game to 2.1 turnovers. Filipowski can struggle with physicality at times but can also overpower smaller defenders in the interior too.
Filipowski offers the best of both worlds for Atlanta. He brings frontcourt depth as well as extra skill on the perimeter. The Hawks would be wise to consider him at the end of the lottery.
